Protecting Your Home

Locks

Locks only work if you use them! Remember to close and lock doors when you are not at home or when you are in another part of the house. Windows should be locked when they are closed. Secure any window air-conditioning units so they cannot be removed by a burglar for easy access to a home.

Deadbolts should be used on every exterior door and should have a minimum of a 1 1/2-inch throw. Strike plates should be secured with 3-inch wood screws (typically these are installed with 1-inch screws which offer little resistance against an individual attempting to force a door open).

Lighting

Night-time lighting should be focused on potential access areas of your home such as exterior doors and garage doors. Spotlights or floodlights are not always the best choice; you want a light that shields the glare from your eyes and illuminates the area you want to view at night, as well as a light that doesn't annoy your neighbors. Motion sensors are a great tool for exterior lighting--in addition to scaring away potential criminals, they also alert neighbors and homeowners if motion is detected.

Landscaping

Ground vegetation (shrubberies and plants) should be trimmed down to no higher than 36 inches tall, and any low-hanging branches on trees should be removed so remaining branches are at least 6 feet off the ground. This eliminates potential hiding spots for burglars who may be prowling about after dark.

Cameras

The Greenville Police Department is often asked about cameras and home security systems. While we do not recommend any particular product or brand over any other, it is helpful to have a security system installed, and if that system includes cameras it is even better. Cameras themselves typically do not deter criminals, but good-quality camera footage can be extremely helpful in identifying suspects in crimes, which in turn can lead to an arrest of a suspect and possibly the return of the property that was stolen.

Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selection process. The burglar's selection process is simple - choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover and with the best escape routes. Target hardening, or protecting vulnerable areas of your home and property by means of physical security devices, is an excellent starting point for reducing the likelihood that your house or apartment will be burglarized.

Crime Prevention Begins At Home

All front entrance doors should be metal clad or of solid core wood construction. A deadbolt lock, in addition to the key-in-the-knob lock, is essential. Use a wide-angle viewer rather than a door chain to observe callers. A screen door or storm door offers additional protection if kept locked.

All ground floor windows should have key-operated sash locks or other locks as described in this booklet. Keep your windows closed and locked when you are away. Screens and storm windows should be securely fastened to the structure.

Keep your second floor secure by trimming tree branches away from the house to prevent access and do not store ladders where a burglar can use them. Lock all windows while you are away. Take the same precautions as with ground floor windows.

The garage door should always be closed and locked. Treat the entrance door from the garage to your house the same as an exterior entrance. A burglar in your garage can work on your house door undetected.

Treat all exterior doors on the rear and sides of your home as possible targets for entry. Since they may be less observable from the street and by neighbors than a front entrance, extra precautions may need to be taken.

Each exterior entrance, including the garage door, should be well lighted. Post lights in your yard or floodlights mounted under the eaves to prevent blind spots where burglars can hide. Low cost controls for exterior lights will turn them on and off at specified times, or motion-sensor lighting can be installed.

When placing trees, bushes and flowers, remember to keep doorways, windows and porches clear. Remember that the bushes that provide you with privacy also give a burglar a place to hide. Plan your landscaping with both privacy and security in mind.

Share with your neighbors your concern about burglary. Tell them what you are doing to protect your home. Ask them to report any suspicious persons or activities around your home to your law enforcement agency. Good neighbors make safe neighborhoods.

Each exterior entrance, including the garage door, should be well lighted. Post lights in your yard or floodlights mounted under the eaves to prevent blind spots where burglars can hide. Low cost controls for exterior lights will turn them on and off at specified times, or motion-sensor lighting can be installed.